Dean Peak Fire containment now at 25 percent

KINGMAN, AZ - Firefighters are getting a handle on a lightning-sparked wildfire in mountains outside of Kingman, with crews building and reinforcing fire-break lines while helicopters drop buckets of water on the blaze.

The Dean Peak Fire in the Hualapai Mountains grew to more than 8.1 square miles Thursday but containment rose from zero to 25 percent as of Friday.

Officials say a lightning strike 10 miles southeast of Kingman sparked the blaze June 29.

About 350 homes in the Pinion Pines and Pine Lake communities remain under mandatory evacuation orders.

Authorities said they had been able to keep the two neighborhoods safe as flames consume mostly brush, juniper, pines and pinion.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross is putting its shelter in Kingman back on standby status because no people are staying there.